For those of us who sit in front of a computer all day, or for those who suffer from insufficient blood flow from legs to the heart—the effects of which range from leg swelling and varicose veins, to the more serious problem of phlebitis and thrombosis—compression socks can be a real life-saver. This elastic type of hosiery improves blood circulation by squeezing the leg at the ankle and delivering a gradually reduced tightening up the leg. This graduated squeezing helps to circulate the blood back to the heart, preventing swelling—or in more extreme cases— blood clots, from forming in the legs. Compression socks and athletes While compression socks have long been recommended for the modern office worker bees glued to their chairs 24/7, as well as for those on long flights in economy cabins with cramped seats and very little legroom, recently more and more athletes have taken to wearing…

Chronic back pain can be very demoralizing and can disrupt your life in profound ways. Back pain is caused by herniated discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, and a host of other back conditions. Patients concerned with the continual use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain, or are reluctant to take steroid injections or seek physical or chiropractic treatment, sometimes opt for traction treatment, also known as spinal decompression therapy. What does traction treatment involve, and how…

If you’re suffering from foot pain, it is likely the result of a misalignment between the bones and muscles of your foot. Arch and heel pain is not the only effect of this misalignment – it may also be at the root of such problems as knee pain, bunions and corns, bursitis, tendinitis, and sometimes even back pain. Podiatrist-prescribed foot orthotics are an effective treatment for these problems. Custom orthotics are insoles-like devices designed to realign the foot and ankle…

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders today. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Canadians has sought treatment for depression at some point in their life. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that depression will be one of two leading disabilities worldwide by year 2020 (the other one being heart disease). What is depression? Depression differs in very important ways from sadness and grief experienced as a result of tragic or traumatic events in one’s life. These…